Health Care Advocate: Job Description & Salary
Explore the career of healthcare advocate. Find out what healthcare advocates do, what kind of education they need, where they work and how much they get paid.
Career Overview
Healthcare advocates work help clients and patients navigate the healthcare industry. They may work directly with clients to help them navigate the complexities of healthcare system. They may also work for overall system-wide healthcare reform. The table provide information about education, training and salaries for a healthcare advocate.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Required</b></td><td>Not required but beneficial to move into management.</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Training Required</b></td><td>Two years experience in some field of health care or social services.</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Key Skills</b></td><td>Excellent communication skills; community engagement; dedicated to helping others; interested in healthcare reform; general computer skills</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2021)</b></td><td>$44,540* (for patient advocates)</td></tr>
</table><p>Source: *Payscale.com
</p><h3 id="section---WhatDoHealthcareAdvocateDo">What Do Healthcare Advocate Do?</h3><p>A healthcare advocate works to support clients and patients within the health care industry. Advocates also work for reforms in the healthcare system. They often work to coordinate information and services between clients, patients, providers and insurance companies. Broadly speaking, anyone working for healthcare reform and patient support could be called a healthcare advocate, including lawyers, social workers, community organizers and patient advocates.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatKindOfEducationAndExperienceToHealthcareAdvocatesNeed">What kind of education and experience to healthcare advocates need?</h3><p>No degree is required to be a healthcare advocate. Two years experience in social services or other healthcare field is usually required. Those who want to move into a management position will find a bachelor's degree helpful. Good communication skills are essential as well as an empathic concern for the welfare of others.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatIsTheJobOutlook">What Is the Job Outlook?</h3><p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has no specific job title 'Healthcare Advocate' but reports that positions for health educators, a related profession, are projected to grow about 12% between 2020 and 2030.
</p><h3 id="section---WhereDoHealthcareAdvocatesWork">Where do Healthcare Advocates work?</h3><p>Healthcare advocates will typically work in advocacy organizations, usually in the non-profit sector. Examples of these organizations include the Patient Advocate Foundation , American Association of Retired People and many other advocacy groups. Advocates may often give educational or informational talks to the public at various community organizations and events. Evening and weekend hours are often required.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3><p>Medical and public health social workers. Health educators. Occupational health and safety specialists. Occupational health and safety technicians.</p>